People who have a white tongue, also known as a geographic tongue, are definitely more likely to experience an abnormally colored tongue. Geographic tongue simply means a tongue that has lots of grooves and fissures in it. These grooves and fissures make an excellent breeding ground for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath and a white tongue. Under certain conditions, a geographic tongue can be white, yellow, even black in color. A geographic tongue can also be coated and sometimes dry and cracked. The way around this problem is simply making sure that your tongue is kept as clean as possible. But...not all tongue cleaning is created equal.
Tongue cleaning or tongue scraping is a process that the majority of people in the United States don't do on a daily basis. Yet, it's one of the most important steps you can take to keep your breath clean and fresh!
MYTHS ABOUT CLEANING A WHITE TONGUE MYTH #1: You have to scrape hard to clean a white tongue. This is false! You do not need to scrape your tongue so hard that it bleeds. In general, pressing harder does not remove more bacteria. You simply need to press hard enough that the tongue cleaner you're using is pressed flush across the surface of your white tongue. Try not to leave any gaps.
MYTH #2: Tongue Cleaning Alone Prevents Bad Breath. This is also false! Tongue cleaning alone does not kill the bacteria that cause bad breath that are breeding below the surface of a white tongue. It simply removes the gunk on the surface. This gunk (mucus and food debris) is a food source for anaerobic bacteria, the cause of a white tongue.
MYTH #3: You must use a complex, expensive gizmo to successfully clean your tongue. Again false! Really, all you need is a fairly rigid instrument, that you can easily make flush on the surface of your white tongue and cover the largest area possible. Those electronic tongue cleaners you see can be helpful if you have arthritis, difficulty with coordination, or in general have a a tough time performing some simple actions on tongue cleaning, which I'll outline below.
Tongue cleaning is really not that difficult to do, and it's not even very time consuming. That extra minute or two you spend on your tongue per day can reap huge rewards in preventing bad breath. It'll help prevent a white tongue, return it to it's normal color, and most importantly cut down on bad breath.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO SUCCESSFULLY CLEAN A WHITE TONGUE STEP 1: Starting at the base of your tongue, place a tongue cleaner/scraper flush against your tongue's surface and make slow sweeping strokes from the back to the front. You can start at either side of your tongue and work your way across to the other side. Depending on the tongue cleaner you are using, you might need to make three to four different swaths across your white tongue.
STEP 2: Once the surface debris from your white tongue has been removed, apply a small bead of toothpaste to the head of your tongue cleaner. Make sure your toothpaste does not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate because this ingredient will dry out your mouth. I recommend using TheraBreath Oxygenating Toothpaste (http://www.therabreath.com/products.asp?CAT=3).
STEP 3: Gently coat the surface of your tongue (as far back as possible without gagging yourself) with the toothpaste. This allows the toothpaste to penetrate below the surface of your tongue and neutralize those sulfur-producing anaerobic bacteria. Believe it or not, there are more bacteria in the rear of your tongue than in the front!
STEP 4: Once your tongue is coated, allow the toothpaste to stay on the surface of your tongue as long as you can. Up to 90 seconds is ideal. If you begin to cough, or your gag reflex kicks in, that's okay, just spit whenever you need to.
STEP 5: Ideally, it's best to leave the toothpaste on the surface of your tongue, while you brush your teeth normally.
Following this routine daily gives you the most benefit possible in cleaning a white tongue. This routine will help prevent white tongue, keep your breath fresh, and give a geographic white tongue its best possible chance at maintaining the normal, healthy, pink color that everyone would like to have.
Dr. Harold Katz is the worldwide expert on the topics of bad breath, halitosis, and dry mouth. Searching for a bad breath solution? To receive your FREE copy of his easy-to-read "Bad Breath Bible" visit: http://www.TheraBreath.com/web/art/L-HTCWT.asp
Do you suffer from chronic bad breath? Chronic halitosis (the medical term for bad breath) is a more than just the temporary halitosis odors caused by eating garlic or other pungent foods--the embarrassing condition stays with you long after the foods are swallowed and digested. Chronic bad breath can't be fixed by breath mints. As soon as the mint is gone, the halitosis returns. Chronic halitosis has a deeper cause and will require a little more effort. But it is very possible to cure chronic bad breath with some fairly simple remedies. Let's take a look at what causes chronic halitosis and what steps you can take to rid yourself of it quickly.
The build-up of bacteria and decaying food particles is almost always the culprit behind chronic bad breath. Your mouth is an excellent environment for bacteria--it's usually dark, warm and moist. Your tongue provides a rough surface for bacteria to grow and multiply on. If you have some plaque building up between your teeth, it also provides hand holds for bacteria and small bits of leftover food. As the bacteria thrives, it gives off odors that most people find unattractive. The best cures for chronic halitosis are cures that attack the bacterial growth in your mouth.
Now, you may be saying "Wait a minute, I brush my teeth all the time--why do I have chronic halitosis?" It's true, even though poor oral hygiene is the overwhelming top cause for chronic halitosis, there are other reasons by you might have a reputation for unkissability. Some people suffer from xerostomia, a chronically dry mouth. Dry mouth is often a side effect of medications, especially treatments for asthma and bronchitis. Having a dry mouth often leads to chronic bad breath. Other possible causes of chronic halitosis include some respiratory diseases and even diabetes.
The quickest and surest help for chronic halitosis is brushing and flossing along with cleaning your tongue. Many people tend to forget their tongue during their dental hygiene activities. Many new toothbrush designs are incorporating tongue cleaning tools, but it's also okay to just brush your tongue. Separate tongue cleaners are also available. In a pinch, you can use the edge of a spoon.
Saliva has been referred to by some as the greatest secret weapon against chronic halitosis. Adequate saliva helps to wash away food particles and bacteria. In addition to the physical cleansing action, saliva also has antibacterial properties. Chewing gum is an excellent way to promote the greater production of saliva in your mouth.
Recent studies have highlighted the surprising effectiveness of cinnamon in the battle against chronic bad breath. Of course you're probably well aware of the pleasing aroma of cinnamon. But this spice has also been found to have ingredients that help lower the levels of bacteria in your mouth. Combining the anti-bacterial properties of cinnamon with the saliva-promoting action of chewing gum will help rid you of chronic halitosis. Make sure you stick with sugar-free gum so you can avoid cavities.
Drinking water can have a positive effect on chronic bad breath. Sometimes you can get dehydrated without really feeling thirsty. So don't wait until you feel the need for water--drink it as a habit. This will help you avoid dehydration that could lower your saliva production. Drinking water also helps to flush away some bacteria and food particles.
If you're on a no-carb or low-carb diet, it could actually be contributing to chronic halitosis. Wouldn't that be ironic--losing weight to be attractive leads to chronic halitosis? When you burn fat on a big scale, your body produces ketones. And ketones in your blood can lead to a distinctive sort of bad breath. So, do yourself and your date a favor--have a few carbs to help your breath.
Everyone suffers from halitosis at one time or another. But chronic bad breath needs a little extra action. Since most chronic halitosis results from bacteria growth and decaying food particles, start by paying a little more attention to your oral hygiene. If that doesn't work pretty quickly, then you should see a dentist as soon as possible. Not only will your dentist be able to provide a thorough cleaning, he's also the right doctor to discuss other options if cleaning doesn't do the job.
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